Kerry make hay as Westmeath tactics backfire

JACK O’CONNOR had many reasons to be cheerful on Saturday night.

Victory over Westmeath and two valuable NFL Division 1A points was the main objective. But the manner in which it was achieved was all the more pleasing for the league and All-Ireland -winning manager.

A superb goal from Tomás Ó Sé early in the second half, followed immediately by another from a rejuvenated Liam Hassett, best symbolised their superiority against a rudderless Westmeath who failed to score in the first half with Dessie Dolan deployed as an outfield player.

It took the dual champions 15 minutes to score their opening three points, having kicked the same number of wides early on. Just like the visitors, they were guilty of some poor passing at times.

Westmeath occasionally threatened up front, with Derek Heavin and Joe Fallon prominent, but overall lacked the edge.

Yet, they came nearest to goaling in the 16th minute when Damien Healy ran on to a clever pass from Denis Glennon but lost control.

Healy was involved in a controversial incident at the end of the half. Tomas Ó Sé attempted to foot-trip him and escaped dismissal because of a bad decision by a referee who managed to annoy supporters on both sides. At the break, it was 0-6 to 0-0.

Westmeath snatched a point through substitute Martin Flanagan after 20 seconds of the resumption and it was notable that Dolan was to contribute three more scores (one from a free) between the 43rd and 51st minutes.

However, in between they conceded two goals which totally frustrated ambitions of a recovery and killed the game as a contest, despite the best efforts of Michael Ennis, Rory O'Connell, Heavin and Dolan.

Tomás Ó Sé, outstanding in a defence which also featured a commanding performance from Seamus Moynihan in the centre, hit the first one after just six minutes.

Scorer of a goal in the Munster final replay against Limerick last year, he was perfectly placed to take a pass from substitute Paul Galvin before unleashing a powerful shot.

One of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for a spectacular Darragh Ó Sé point from 55 yards.

A minute's silence was observed in memory of Martin 'Bracker' O'Regan, Kerry's longest-oldest All-Ireland medal holder, who died last week.

Scorers for Kerry: L Hassett 1-1; D Ó Cinnéide 0-4 (0-2 frees); T Ó Sé 1-0; D Quill and C Cooper 0-2 each; D Ó Sé and E Brosnan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: D Dolan 0-3 (0-1 free); Denis Glennon 0-2; M Flanagan and David Glennon 0-1 each.

KERRY: D Murphy; A O'Mahony, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, S Moynihan, B Guiney; D Ó Sé, W Kirby; L Hassett, P Kelly, E Brosnan; D Quill, D Ó Cinnéide, C Cooper. Subs: P Galvin for Kelly (h-tsecond half); N Kennelly for Ó Cinnéide (67th min); B Sheehan for Hassett (68th).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D McDermott; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; D Heavin, J Brennan, J Fallon; A Lambden, Denis Glennon, D Dolan. Subs: M Flanagan for Lambden (20th min); D Mitchell for Brennan (43rd); David Glennon for Fallon (45th); D Kilmartin for McDermott (55th); P Tormey for O'Shaughnessy (62nd); C Galligan for Flanagan (67th).

Referee: T Quigley (Wexford).